Infections, most commonly Helicobacter pylori, which can cause stomach ulcers

Normal Values

Abnormal results may be due to:

Gastric cancer

Gastritis, when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen

H. pylori infection, which causes most ulcers in the stomach

The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What abnormal results mean

A gastric tissue biopsy is normal if it does not show cancer, other damage to the lining of the stomach, or signs of Helicobacter pylori infection.

A gastric tissue culture may be considered normal if it does not show certain bacteria. Stomach acids normally prevent too much bacteria from growing

What the risks are

There are no risks associated with a culture. For information on risks related to the biopsy procedure, see upper endoscopy.